Now, we’re talking. Finally some real (and concrete) love for “Doubt.” Forget the critic awards, the Globes, etc. Anyone worth their salt in Oscar predictions knows the closest true bellwether to Oscar nominations are the guild awards and the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) has just announced their nominees. Topping out the list in John Patrick Shanley’s “Doubt,” with five nominations including Best Ensemble (often considered the precursor to Best Picture), Best Actress (Meryl Streep), Best Supporting Actor (Philip Seymour Hoffman) and two nominations for Best Supporting Actress (Viola Davis and Amy Adams).
“Doubt” might be the best Oscar-bait film of the year, so we’re pleased (“Slumdog” is a surprise and not really traditional “Oscar-bait” per se).
“Milk” and “The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button” earned three nominations each including Best Ensemble and nods for Sean Penn and Josh Brolin and Brad Pitt and Taraji P. Henson (Cate Blanchett is not so curiously absent).
On an individual level, Henson has to be seen as the most formidable actor. She earned three nominations, two for her work in “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” and one as a member of the “Boston Legal” ensemble (we purposely omitted the TV picks).
Look at these as the strongest indications of who will be nominated in the Oscar acting categories. There’s always some deviation come Oscar nomination time, but generally, the two final lists are very similar.
Surprises
Perhaps the biggest surprise to us is seeing “Slumdog Millionaire”s Dev Patel scoring a Best Supporting Actor award. Another huge coup is Richard Jenkins beating the odds to grab a nomination for Best Actor for his quiet and reserved performance in “The Visitor.” Another shocker is Robert Downey Jr. nabbing a Best Supporting Actor nomination for “Tropic Thunder,” we never thought it would happen. We’re also pretty surprised to see Kate Winslet take a Best Supporting Actress nod for her just ok turn in “The Reader.” Someone more deserving should have taken that slot, frankly.
Snubs?
Clint Eastwood not earning a nomination for “Gran Torino,” will be seen as a snub to some, but not us. He wasn’t that good. Kristen Scott Thomas not earning a nomination for “I’ve Loved You So Long,” is a fucking travesty, but we think SAG only nominates American films, so she still might have a shot. Leonard DiCaprio did not earn a nomination for “Revolutionary Road,” which is a bit of a shame. He deserves a nomination long before Brad Pitt does. Sally Hawkins not scoring a Best Actress nom for “Happy-Go-Lucky” is unfortunate too, but again, it might be an U.S. thing (it’s a British film). Many will see Marisa Tomei absence in the Best Supporting Actress category for “The Wrestler” as a snub, but she’s not amazing or anything (though she is good). A major major snub, that keeps happening is Michael Shannon in “Revolutionary Road.” Months ago, he seemed like a lock for a nomination, but somehow RDJ got in their first [ed. ridiculous]. It’s also unfortunate that Rosemarie DeWitt couldn’t take a Best Supporting slot for “Rachel Getting Married,” she was the only great thing about that mirthless film.
BTW, we’re not the only concerned with Shannon’s blatant snub. Jeffrey Wells goes off: “What is the blockage that people have about Shannon and this film? It’s simply unconscionable to blow off a performance this lightning-bolt vivid and searing.” Well fucking said.
The 2008 SAG Nominations:
Best Ensemble
“The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”
“Doubt”
“Frost/Nixon”
“Milk
“Slumdog Millionaire”
Best Actor
Richard Jenkins (“The Visitor”)
Frank Langella (“Frost/Nixon”)
Sean Penn (“Milk”)
Brad Pitt (“The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”)
Mickey Rourke (“The Wrestler”)
Best Actress
Anne Hathaway (“Rachel Getting Married”)
Angelina Jolie (“Changeling”)
Melissa Leo (“Frozen River”)
Meryl Streep (“Doubt”)
Kate Winslet (“Revolutionary Road”)
Best Supporting Actor
Josh Brolin (“Milk”)
Robert Downey Jr. (“Tropic Thunder”)
Philip Seymour Hoffman (“Doubt”)
Heath Ledger (“The Dark Knight”)
Dev Patel (“Slumdog Millionaire”)
Best Supporting Actress
Amy Adams (“Doubt”)
Penelope Cruz (“Vicky Cristina Barcelona”)
Viola Davis (“Doubt”)
Taraji P. Henson (“The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”)
Kate Winslet (“The Reader”)
Winners will be announced at the SAG awards ceremonies on Jan. 25 in Los Angeles.
